HC Deb 19 July 1889 vol 338 cc845-6
MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, within the past few days, at Caher, in the County of Tipperary, Constables Hollingsworth and Holohan, of the Irish Constabulary, tore down placards announcing a collection for a testimonial to the Member for the Division, the first-named constable tearing down the placards first posted, including one posted on a private house with permission of the owner, and the last-named constable tearing down the placards posted up by the committee after those first posted had been destroyed by Constable Hollingsworth; why these constables tore the placards down; and under what legal power, and on what instruction they so acted.

* THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

The placards referred to were not torn down from any private house unless a gateway commonly used for posting notices of every sort can be so described. The constables acted by direction of the sergeant. They tore the placards down because in the sergeant's opinion the placards contained objectionable matter. The objectionable matter appears to have consisted partly in some uncomplimentary references to myself, and as these, so far as I can see, can do no harm to anyone, they do not, in my judgment, supply a sufficient justification for the action of the police. But there were also words tending to bring the law into contempt, and these the police very properly thought rendered the placard illegal.

MR. SEXTON

Were not the objectionable words those which expressed the hope that persons of Nationalist sympathies, who concurred in the action of the Committee, would honour and esteem the Chief Secretary's "criminals?"

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes; and my impression is that doing honour to criminals is bringing the law into contempt.

MR. SEXTON

Are the police in this district authorized to tear down placards in which Irish feelings of regard and esteem for Mr. J. O'Connor, Member of Parliament for that division, who has been convicted under the Coercion Act, are expressed?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, Sir; they may express as much esteem for any gentleman as they like, but that does not cover the words in the placard.